About Us

Our Mission

Dickinson College’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Office is by, for, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and ally members of the Dickinson College community. The LGBTQ Office works to create a safe and supportive environment through educational opportunities and advocating for the needs and concerns of LGBTQQIA students.

Our Vision

We strive to improve the Dickinson College campus climate by coordinating efforts across campus, providing outreach to students, staff, and faculty, and working to ensure the inclusion and integration of LGBTQQIA issues campus wide. Our goal is to enhance the Dickinson College campus community and to ensure the advancement of our students’ academic pursuits by creating an open and affirming environment void of homophobia, heterosexism, and gender bias. Through educational, social, and supportive programming, along with conducting training sessions and consultation, the Office of LGBTQ Services serves the entire campus community.

History of LGBTQ Services at Dickinson

From being among the first colleges and universities in the country to offer domestic-partner benefits to hosting the annual Gay-Straight Alliance Leadership Summit for college and high-school students (the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania), Dickinson has a history of welcoming students, faculty and staff who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex or ally. Although several initiatives have taken place on the Dickinson campus to provide a more LGBTQ inclusive environment, recent history and programs have primarily grown from the Office of Diversity Initiatives.

Since 2009, the Office of Diversity Initiatives has partnered with the LGBT Community Center Coalition of Central Pennsylvania to host an annual GSA Leadership Summit. Besides the GSA Leadership Summit, several other exciting initiatives have been developing on campus. During fall 2010, the Office of Diversity Initiatives under the direction of Paula Lima Jones, assisted with the creation of Pride@Dickinson. Coordinated by Joy Verner, Communications Manager for Student Development, Pride@Dickinson created a foundation upon which the LGBTQ Services Office was created.

Brian Patchcoski was selected to lead the new Office of LGBTQ Services and began as Director on August 1st 2012. While the Office of LGBTQ Services is new, it seeks to foster community among LGBTQ Dickinsonians and their straight allies; welcomes a diversity of racial, ethnic, religious, political and cultural values; and is looking forward to sponsoring annual events such as the Pride Reception, LGBT History Month, Coming Out Week, and Senior Pride. The Office is looking forward to collaborating with student organizations, campus departments, and community organizations to provide the Dickinson community with access to resources, activities and support services.

Feel free to e-mail any questions you may have to the Office of LGBTQ Services at LGBTQ@Dickinson.edu